USS REAGAN PASSING THE ARIZONA MEMORIAL

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Boy!!! When the Bridge pipes "Man the Rail" there is a lot of rail to man on this monster.

Shoulder to shoulder around 4½ acres.

This doesn't give her displacement but it's about 100,000 tons with full complements.

Capabilities:

*Top speed exceeds 30 knots (actual speed classified)
*Powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for    more than 20 years without refueling
*Expected to operate in the fleet for about 50 years
*Carries over 80 combat aircraft
*Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet

Size:

*Towers 20 stories above the waterline
*1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall
*Flight deck covers 4.5 acres
*4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing 66,200 pounds
*2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons
*4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet

Dates:

*Dec 8, 1994 Contract awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding
*Feb 12, 1998 Keel laid
*Oct 1, 2000 Precommissioning Unit established
*March 4, 2001 Christened by Mrs. Nancy Reagan
*May 5, 2003 First underway
*July 12, 2003 Commissioned
*July 23, 2004 Arrived at homeport in San Diego, CA

Capacity:

*Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel
*Carries enough food and supplies to operate independently for 90 days
*8,150 meals served daily
*Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2000 homes
*Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring
*1,400 telephones, 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets

Known Deceased Shipmates  
For a complete listing visit our Memorial Page in the ships website

Calvin Bullington, DC1, April 22, 2005	Lawrence "Larry" Moyer, Sr., SKC, January 10, 2005
Louis F. Raniszewski, BT1, May 18, 2005	Robert L. White, MM1, April 10, 2002

USS Hermitage (LSD34) Construction and Launch.   Pictures donated by Mike Sheehy, Fairfield, OH.  The ship sails today under the flag of Brazil, out of Rio de Janeiro, G30

Photos of the Brazilian Navy LSD (G30), (formerly USS Hermitage)

SHIPMATE

Carters get ride on president’s namesake submarine

By Christopher Munsey
Navy Times staff writer

Long described as the Navy’s spy submarine, Parche decommissioned in October.

Shipmates Who Live in the State of
Arizona

Submitted by Norm Jepsom, BMSN

Photos contributed by Rick Leeth, MM3

Bow of the P Rock	# 1 Stack

LSD's Currently Still in Service

USS Rushmore (LSD47)

United States ship USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) is the seventh ship of the LSD-41 WHIDBEY ISLAND class and the fourth ship of that class to serve in the Pacific Fleet. USS Rushmore’s mission is to transport Marines with their combat equipment to designated areas throughout the world, then launch and support landing craft and helicopters during amphibious operations on hostile shores.

RUSHMORE carries Air Cushioned Landing Craft Vehicles (LCAC). LCACs are assault landing craft capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots when carrying a 60-ton payload. Using this versatile craft, RUSHMORE is able to carry out an amphibious assault against a wider range of beaches at distances that were not operationally feasible in the past.

Officially designated a Landing Ship Dock (LSD), RUSHMORE accomplishes her mission through the use of a well deck which is flooded to launch and recover landing craft. After departing the ship, the assault craft are directed toward the shore by the ship’s Combat Information Center (CIC).

RUSHMORE is superbly designed to carry out her mission. With a 440-foot well deck capable of holding four LCACs, a flight deck able to land and launch up to two CH-53E helicopters, the Navy’s latest diesel propulsion and engineering technology, advanced repair facilities, complete medical and dental facilities, and troop berthing accommodations for up to 627 embarked Marines, the warship RUSHMORE presents an exciting and formidable amphibious capability

The 1st Navy Jack Excerpt from SECNAV Instruction 10520.6 As the first ships of the Continental Navy readied in the Delaware River during the fall of 1775, Commodore Esek Hopkins issued a set of fleet signals. His signal for the "whole Fleet to Engage" the enemy provided for the "strip'd Jack and Ensign at their proper places." Thus, from the very beginning of our Navy, the Jack has been used on board American warships. The first navy Jack was a flag consisting of 13 horizontal alternating red and white stripes bearing diagonally across them a rattlesnake in a moving position with the motto "Don't Tread On Me." Action. The First Navy Jack will be displayed on board all U. S. Navy ships in lieu of the Union Jack ...  during the War on Terrorism.
					Until this recent action by the Secretary of the Navy, all commissioned ships displayed the Union Jack on the ship's jackstaff from 8 a.m. until sunset while the ship was at anchor except that the ship with the longest period of continuous duty displayed this first jack.

Bluejacket
    The first uniform that was ever officially sanctioned for sailors in the Royal Navy was a short blue jacket open in the front.  A generic name for a Navy enlisted person.

Boatswain's Pipe
    1) No self-respecting boatswain's mate would dare admit he couldn't blow his pipe in a manner above reproach. This pipe, which is the emblem of the boatswain and his mates, has an ancient and interesting history. On the ancient row-galleys, the boatswain used his pipe to t;call the stroke;. Later because its shrill tune could be heard above most of the activity on board, it was used to signal various happenings such as knock-off and the boarding of officials. So essential was this signaling device to the well-being of the ship, that it became a badge of office and honor in the British and American Navy of the sailing ships.

    2) One of the oldest and most distinctive pieces of nautical equipment, the pipe or flute was used in Greece and Rome to keep the stroke of galley slaves.  The pipe was used in the Crusades to call English cross bowmen on deck for attack.  In time, the pipe came to be used as a badge of office by commanders.  The whistle was used for salutes to distinguished persons as well as to pass orders.
    A 1645 publication detailing honors for an admiral, orders; "The ship's barge to be sent to fetch the visitor having the cockson with his silver whistle in the stern... Upon the near approach of the barge the noise of the trumpets are to sound and so to hold on until the barge comes within less than musket shot, at that time the trumpets are to cease and all such as carry whistles are to whistle a welcome three several times."
    The parts of the pipe are the buoy, gun, keel and shackle.

Boot
    Rookie or newbie, as in ‘boot Ensign.’ Originated in the habit of referring to a new man as ‘bootcamp,’ rather than by name.